Eco-savvy wedding planning is important to a growing number of brides and grooms who want to have the wedding of their dreams in a way that is sustainable and environmentally conscious. This weekend, DC-area couples have the chance to participate in the one-of-a-kind Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase that focuses entirely on eco-friendly vendors and techniques.

Here to give us a sneak peek at the inspiration behind this unique event is Lori Hill, the show’s co-executive producer and president of lori hill event productions. Check out what she has to say, and get your tickets today! Guys, there’s even something fun there for you, so don’t miss out!

Describe the inspiration behind the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase, and explain what makes this event unique. 

Nathaniel Corn and Rissa Miller, my co-executive producers who I met through the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance, were tired of attending wasteful wedding shows. They asked me if I wanted to help them produce a green wedding show, and I immediately jumped on board.  We wanted the event itself to be green by keeping paper usage to a minimum (no show guides!), recycling and composting all waste, serving organic beer and wine in corn-based cups, and not providing bottled water, just to name a few of our over 25 green initiatives.

In addition to that, we wanted to ensure that the exhibitors themselves practiced sustainability. That is why we require ALL exhibitors – even if they are sponsors providing us with an in-kind donation – to complete a sustainability questionnaire. To ensure objectivity, we have a panel of 5 “greenies,” who are both inside and outside the event industry, review each application. The shades of green for our exhibitors range from light green to dark green.  It is our hope that the dark greens inspire the light greens to go greener! 

Courtesy of Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase

In your eyes, why is green wedding planning so important, and what do you hope couples will take away from this event?

Special events are so incredibly wasteful!  Most of the time, resources are used just once and then head straight to the landfill to remain for a lifetime – or more.  We need to be more mindful of how we treat our natural resources and dispose of our waste so that the generations who come after us can enjoy the Earth just like we do today. I hope this event educates couples about all the eco-options available to them that they might not even be aware of. You can make just about every component of your event sustainable – apparel, décor, food and beverage, venue, transportation – you name it!  And you can find it all at the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase! 

Is there any other information about the event that you’d like to share? 

Not only will our Showcase feature nearly 40 sustainable vendors, but we will also have an Eco Fashion Show featuring designs by 20 eco-chic designers.  Last year’s show featured over 50 designs that ranged from traditional to contemporary to really creative. It is not like your traditional bridal fashion show, and we are really proud of that.    

We will also have thousands of dollars in eco swag. Each exhibitor was asked to provide a sustainable door prize valued at $100, and we will have even more door prizes at Swag Central, located in our wine bar. All attendees can enter to win. Our grand prize is a 5-night getaway to Samasati Nature Retreat in Costa Rica, compliments of Green Earth Travel.

Finally, we have a Man Cave for the guys, featuring lounge furniture, local/organic beer, and the day’s NBA game on a big screen. 

Courtesy of Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase

Are you planning an eco-friendly wedding? Tell us about it below!